FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING WOMEN AND RAMADAN By Naima Clarke As we once again approach the wonderful period of Ramadan, many of us have genuine dayto-day questions about the practicalities behind Ramadan and what it means for women. This article will look into some frequently-asked-questions on this subject and aims to briefly answer those queries. Do we have to make up for lost fasts during menstrual days?
Fasting is an incredible source of blessings and as such, women who are able to should endeavour to reap the blessings of fasting in all cases. Having said this, during the month of Ramadan, menstruating women are exempt from fasting but are still required to complete the missed fasts later on, this is according to the Holy Qur’an, Surah AlBaqarah, Verse 185-186. Further concession is then also made for those Muslim women who are unable to complete their missed fasts later on as well; in such a case they are required to pay the fidya (a compensation for not fasting— in the form of feeding the poor).
(Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 185) (The Significance of Ramadan, Aizaz Ahmad Khan) [https://www.alislam.org/articles/significance-of-ramadan/] When should a girl start fasting?
One should start fasting when one reaches the age of maturity, although this age differs from country to country, this is usually around the age of 17-18 years old. This is when it becomes farz (obligatory) to keep the fasts of Ramadan. Of course, practising much shorter fasts which are less in duration or intensity can be a practise if one wills at a slightly younger age.
(Gulshan e Waqfe Nau Melbourne, Australia Lajna Nasirat 12th Oct 2013) [https://www.alislam.org/video/from-what-age-fasts-becomeobligatory/] Does your fast break when menstruation starts?
As is the case with all the acts of a Muslim, they are judged and rewarded according to intention. If a woman establishes her Niyah (intention) to fast in the morning then she will indeed Insha’Allah reap the blessings of that fast. If, however her menstruation starts during a fast, she must open her fast as this automatically breaks it, but the reward for that fast will still be awarded to her as the niyah to fast was nevertheless intact.
(Ramadhan and its Blessings by Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad- Chapter 4- ‘Rules of Fasting’) [https://www.alislam.org/book/ramadhan-blessings/rules-of-fasting/]
